Method, apparatus, and system for data transmission based on dlna network

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and system for data transmission based on a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) network that classifies contents files which are stored in a DMS according to a support of the DLNA network to make a contents list. Support is provided to convert a file attribute of a selected file into a file attribute which can be applied to the DLNA network to generate, in case a user selects a non-supported file which is not applied to the DLNA network. The invention outputs the selected file to a display unit, captures the outputted image to convert into a file which can be applied to the DLNA network.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/370,689 which claims priority from an earlier application filed inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 13, 2008 and assignedSerial No. 10-2008-0013006, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and system fordata transmission based on a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method,apparatus, and system for data transmission based on a DLNA networkwhich is capable of supporting the playback of various files based onthe DLNA network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, the exchange of the AV (Audio/video) contents such as, forexample, a music or an image via an IP network continues to expand. Forexample, it is becoming more common to watch a television program orhear music via the Internet. The proliferation of exchanging the AVcontents through a network has also spread to the home. Therefore, inthe home, various AV machines are connected to configure a home networkwhich enables to easily enjoy the AV contents. In order to realize suchconfiguration, various automated mechanisms are required. In this case,it is not sufficient that the machines are just connected to a LANinterface or have a wireless LAN function.

Instead, it is required that the presence of the other party should berecognized through a network for a number of reasons, and there shouldbe a search as to whether a desired content is present or not, andwhether such desired contents can be exchanged. Various middleware(UPnP, HaVi, Jini, VESA, DLNA or the like) are used so as to recognizethe presence of the other party through the network and to search forcontents to exchange desired contents.

The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), which is one of themiddleware is focused on the sharing of all contents provided frominstruments such as a TV, a VCR, a digital camera, an audio system orthe like. The sharing of contents firstly requires theinter-compatibility of the instruments. Particularly, a network thatconnects a PC Internet network (a PC, a printer or the like), a mobilenetwork (a PDA, a mobile phone, a notebook or the like), an electronicappliances network (a TV, an audio, a DVD player or the like) to thehome needs to satisfy the cooperation between key industries, thestandardization of the operating frame work, and the operating in theproduct which observes it.

Particularly, the DLNA supports in the position of consumer to obtain,transmit, and manage many digital media contents (for example, aphotograph, music and a video or the like) from a private apparatus,such as a mobile device or a PC (Personal Computer). That is, the DLNAmakes it possible to conveniently enjoy a media contents regardless ofthe location and the apparatus in home. Thus, the DLNA system can be awired and wireless network system which, based on UPnP, includes a DMS(Digital Media Server), a DMP (Digital Media Player), a DMC (DigitalMedia Controller), and a DMR (Digital Media Renderer).

The DMS, DMP, and DMC include a M-DMS (Mobile-Digital Media Server), aM-DMP (Mobile-Digital Media Player), and a M-DMC (Mobile-Digital MediaController) which are portable. The M-DMS, the M-DMP, the M-DMC can bedirectly connected to the DLNA system or can be connected to the DLNAsystem through an AP (Access Point). In addition, an M-NCF(Mobile-Network Connection Function) exists in the AP as an intermediatenode for connecting the M-DMS to the M-DMP. A home network can beconfigured by the DLNA system through using a wired network (IEEE 802.3)or a wireless network (IEEE 802.11). The DMS, the DMP and the DMR on thehome network can be interconnected through the wire (IEEE 802.3) or thewireless network (IEEE 802.11). The digital apparatus on the homenetwork can transmit data such as an image, a voice through the IEEE1394.

Particularly, the interconnection standard of the home network apparatuscalled “DLNA Guide-lines for the Standardization of the DLNA System”classifies the apparatus part of the DLNA into the DMS (Digital MediaServer), the DMP (Digital Media Player), the DMC (Digital MediaController) or the DMR (Digital Media Renderer), determining theconnecting condition between the DMS and the DMP, the DMC or the DMR. Inthe meantime, the kind of a file that the DMS can process is restrictedto a kind of multimedia file that the above-described DLNA guide-linesupports. Accordingly, although the DMR has a capability of outputtingvarious files, it can only replay a file that the DLNA guide-linerestricts, so that the advantage is decreased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to provide a method, apparatus, andsystem for data transmission based on a DLNA network, for replayingvarious files by transfiguring the DMS function, regardless of thesupporting of the DLNA guide-lines, for a contents file while notgenerating the compatibility problem with existing DMR instruments.

A method for data communications based on a DLNA network according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes searching storedcontents files by a digital media server according to a request of adigital media controller; extracting a non-supported file which the DLNAnetwork does not support among the contents files; assigning a name ofvirtual file which can be checked in the DLNA network for the extractednon-supported file; and generating a contents list including a supportfile which the virtual file and the DLNA network support.

An apparatus for data communications based on a DLNA network accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a contentsstorage unit which stores contents files; a contents management unitwhich classifies contents files stored in the contents storage unitaccording to a support of DLNA network; and a contents directory serviceunit which generates a contents list by making use of a list of theclassified contents files.

A system for data communications based on a DLNA network according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a digital mediaserver which stores a contents file to provide according to a request; adigital media controller which requests a contents file for regenerationamong the contents file; and a digital media renderer which regeneratesrequested by the digital media controller, wherein the digital mediaserver generates a virtual file corresponding to a non-support file, andgenerates a contents list which includes the generated virtual file anda support file which a DLNA network supports, in case of including thenon-support file which the DLNA network does not support among thestored contents file.

According to a method, apparatus, and system for data transmission basedon a DLNA network of the present invention, there is the replaying ofvarious files by transmitting and replaying through transfiguringregardless of the supporting of the DLNA guide-line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exemplary objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art fromthe following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a configuration of a data transmissionsystem based on a DLNA network according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a configuration of a portable terminalaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an example of a file converteraccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a data transmission method based on aDLNA network according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeparts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structuresincorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring appreciation ofthe subject matter of the present invention with such well-knownfunctions and structures.

Hereinafter, the exemplary configuration included in a DLNA network willbe illustrated based on a DMS, a DMC and a DMR. The configurationincluded in such DLNA network may include a DMP in which the functionsof the DMC and the DMR are integrated, as well as the above-describedconfiguration. Moreover, a PC, a mobile phone, or a PDA to which theinvention can be practically applied corresponds to an apparatus thatintegrates the DMS and the DMC among the above-described configurations.Further, it may correspond to an apparatus in which the DMS and the DMPfunction are integrated. Here, the above described PC can include notonly a desktop PC but also a notebook, and a tablet PC or the like.

The DMR can include a digital television, and a projector or the like,and the digital television and the projector can include acommunications module which transmits and receives a data in the DLNAnetwork. The communications module can include the above-describedapparatuses, that is, all modules to which the PC, the mobile phone, orthe PDA, and the digital television and the projector or the like can beconnected by wire or wireless.

In the meantime, hereinafter, a source replayed by the DMR will becalled as “file”, “contents” or “contents file”. A file which is notapplied to the DLNA network, that is, a file which the DLNA guide-linedoes not support will be called as “non-supported file”. Accordingly, afile which the DLNA guide-line supports will be called a support file.

In the present invention, a data transmission apparatus defines, forexample, a file which supports indicating the non-supported file in theDLNA network as a virtual file, and assigns a virtual file name so as tooutput the virtual file to a display unit. In the invention, the virtualfile can be understood, for example, to comprise a file which does notstore the substantial content of the file, but supports to distinguishthe non-supported file in the DLNA network. Therefore, the designatingof the virtual file by selecting the virtual name will perform the sameoperation as the designating of the non-supported file.

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a configuration of a data transmissionsystem based on a DLNA network according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the data transmission system of the presentinvention includes a Digital Media Server (DMS) 100 and a DMP (DigitalMedia Player) 400 or a DMS 100 and a Digital Media Controller (DMC) 200,an AP (Access Point) 250 and a DMR (Digital Media Renderer) 300. The DMP400 has a configuration which includes the function of the DMC (DigitalMedia Controller) and the DMR.

The DMP 400 may comprise, for example, an instrument such as a PCincluding the DMS 100 function, a mobile phone and a PDA. The PCincluding the above-described DMS 100 function, or the mobile phone andthe PDA generates a virtual file name and can support in order that auser can see the generated virtual file name, with respect to a filethat the DLNA guide-line does not support among lists of various storedcontents. The user designates a corresponding contents which will betransmitted to the DMR 300 through the DMP 400. In this case, when thedesignated corresponding contents is not a file which the DLNAguide-line does not support, the above-described PC or the mobile phoneand the PDA or the like can perform a task of converting into a filewhich the DLNA guide-line supports.

In other words, in a case where the selected contents file is a filewhich the DLNA guide-line does not support, the PC of the presentinvention (or the mobile phone and PDA, e.g. “device”) capture a screeninformation outputted from the apparatus itself; thereafter, the deviceencodes and generates a conversion file according to a method which theDLNA guide-line supports, for example, a MPEG method. Then, theapparatuses can transmit the generated conversion file to the DMR 300with a streaming type transmission. The DMS 100 plays a role of storinga digital media contents or providing it to the DMR 300 while having thecapability of approaching to the contents in UPnP (Universal Plug andPlay) AV area.

The DMC 200 provides a search function for searching the digital mediacontents item within the DMS 100 including a control point CP which isan UI (User-Interface) application, and supports that the DLNA networkuser displays or distribute the contents. In the meantime, the DMS 100is related with the DMR 300, for example, the DMS 100, which is abroadcasting receiver for receiving a digital broadcasting, receives andstores a broadcast signal. Thereafter, the DMS provides the selectedcontents to the DMR 300 when a request of the DMC 200 (which controlsthe DMR 300) occurs.

Particularly in this example, the DMS 100 of the present inventiongenerates a virtual file name corresponding to a corresponding file sothat the DMC 200 can search files which are provided by the control ofthe DMC 200 or the DMP 400, not only files which are defined by the DLNAguide-line but also various non-supported files that are stored in theDMS 100 and which the DLNA guide-line does not support, and is providedto the DMC 200 or the DMP 400. In case the DMC 200 or the DMP 400selects a virtual file which the DLNA guide-line does not support, theDMS 100 performs a task which converts a corresponding file into a filewhich the DLNA guide-line supports and generates a conversion file. Theconfiguration of the DMS 100 will now be described herein below indetail with reference to FIG. 2 with the apparatuses described above.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the DMC 200 is positioned between the DMS 100and the DMR 300 and performs the control of regenerating the DMR 300while receiving the contents list which the DMS 100 generates. Here, thecontents list which the DMC 200 receives can include, for example, avirtual file directory which the DLNA guide-line does not support. TheDMC 200 controls specific contents which are selected through a controlsignal transmission between the DMS 100 and the DMR 300, so that the DMS100 might transmit the contents to the DMR 300.

The AP 250 relays a control signal which the DMP 400 transmits to theDMR 300 or the DMS 100, and relays a streaming signal which the DMS 100transmits to the DMP 400. Moreover, in case a user tries to connect tothe DMS 100 and to select and generate the contents list by using theDMC 200, the AP 250 can relay a control signal delivered from the DMC200 to the DMS 100, and can relay a streaming signal transmitted fromthe DMS 100 to the DMR 300 via the DMC 200.

The DMR 300 replays the contents which the DMP 400 or the DMC 200selected. In case of the DMP 400, the DMR can be included. At this time,the DMR 300 can receive a conversion file which the DMS 100 convertedwith a streaming type, and output. In the meantime, the DMR 300 canoutput a various contents list which the DMS 100 has according to theDMC 200 control. The DMR 300 may comprise, for example, a TV, and aprojector or the like. The data transmission system of the inventionhaving such an exemplary configuration supports the file which the DLNAnetwork does not support in order to convert into a file which the DLNAnetwork supports and outputs. In other words, in case the DMS 100 storesthe file which the DLNA network does not support, the data transmissionsystem of the invention generates a virtual file name for the storedDLNA guide-line non-supported file, and supports a user to identify thegenerated virtual file name.

Then, in case a user wants to regenerate the DLNA guide-line non-supportfile supported with the virtual file name among the contents list, theDMS 100 converts a corresponding non-support file into a file which theDLNA guide-line supports to generate a conversion file. Here, theinvention transmits the generated conversion file to the DMR 300 with astreaming type to output, such that even a file which the DLNAguide-line does not support can be regenerated.

Hereinafter, an apparatus corresponding to the DMS 100 and DMC 200 orthe DMP 400 among the configuration of the data transmission systembased on a DLNA network of the invention will be illustrated with aportable terminal as an example. However, the DMP 400, the DMS 100, andthe DMC 200 of the present invention are not restricted to theabove-described specific device, but it is obvious that it can becorresponded to various electronic devices applied to the DLNA network.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary configuration of theportable terminal 10 corresponding to the DMP 400, the DMS 100 and theDMC 200 of a data transmission system based on a DLNA network of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the exemplary configuration of portableterminal 10 includes a contents generation unit 110, a contentsmanagement unit 120, a contents storage unit 130, a contentstransmission unit 140, a connection management service unit 170, an AVtransmission service unit 180, a contents directory service unit 160, aninput unit 190, a display unit 150, a controller 101 and a fileconverter 102. The portable terminal 10 of the invention having such anexemplary configuration generates a virtual file of the non-supportfiles which the DLNA guide-line does not support with respect to variousfiles which are stored in the contents storage unit 130, and supportsthe generated virtual file to output to the display unit 150 so that auser can select.

When the user selects the non-supported file outputted to the virtualfile, the portable terminal 10 converts it into a file which the DLNAguide-line supports to generate a conversion file, while outputting thegenerated conversion file to the display unit 150 and transmitting it tothe DMR 300.

Hereinafter, the exemplary contents of portable terminal 10 of thepresent invention will be illustrated in detail. The contents generationunit 110 can directly generate contents or can generate new contents byprocessing the contents received from the other DMS through a network.The contents that are generated by the contents generation unit 110 isstored in the contents storage unit 130 through the contents managementunit 120.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the contents management unit 120 comprises amodule which controls the contents which the contents generation unit110 generates and delivers. The contents management unit 120 supportsthe contents directory service unit 160 to generate a contents list.That is, the contents management unit 120 provides a list of contentsstored in the contents storage unit 130 according to the request of thecontents directory service unit 160. At this time, the contentsmanagement unit 120 can store the contents list which the contentsdirectory service unit 160 generated, into the contents storage unit130. In case the non-supported files which the DLNA guide-line does notsupport are stored in the contents storage unit 130, the contentsmanagement unit 120 generates the virtual file name of a correspondingnon-support files.

Thereafter, the contents management unit 120 can renew the contents listby including the above described virtual files in the contents list. Thegenerated contents list can be stored in the contents storage unit 130and can be delivered to the contents directory service unit 160. Thecontents storage unit 130 stores the contents which the contentsgeneration unit 110 delivers while storing the contents list which thecontents management unit 120 generates. Here, the contents stored in thecontents storage unit 130 can include not only the files which the DLNAguide-line supports but also the files which the DLNA guide-line doesnot support, for example, can include a PPT data, and a PDF data or thelike.

Accordingly, the contents list stored in the contents storage unit 130can include not only support file names which the above-described DLNAguide-line supports but also virtual file names corresponding to thenon-supported file. The various contents and the contents list which thecontents storage unit 130 stored are transmitted to the display unit 150and DMR 300 through the contents transmission unit 140 respectively. Thecontents transmission unit 140 transmits the contents stored in thecontents storage unit 130 to the DMR 300 through a network, that is,through the AP. In other words, the contents transmission unit 140 ofthe present invention controls to output the contents list including thevirtual file name corresponding to the non-support file to the displayunit 150 while transmitting a specific contents which the input unit 190selects to the DMR 300.

The contents directory service unit 160 provides one service based on anUniversal Plug and Play (UPnP) AV structure, while providing thecontents by delivering the contents list stored in the contents storageunit 130 to an external device. That is, the contents directory serviceunit 160 can deliver the contents list which is generated based on thecontents, which the contents management unit 120 manages, to the displayunit 150 and the contents transmission unit 140. The connectionmanagement service unit 170 provides a service based on an UPnP(Universal Plug and Play) AV structure, while managing the connectionwith the apparatuses which approaches the portable terminal 10. That is,the connection management service unit 170 manages the connection of theDMR, which is connected to a DLNA network for connecting to the portableterminal 10 through a network, the connection of the DMC (Digital MediaController), which is able to control the portable terminal 10, and theconnection of the other portable terminal for forming a communicationschannel with the portable terminal 10.

The AV transmission service unit 180 provides a service based on an UPnPAV structure, transmits a routine for the connection with the DMR 300,and manages the contents and the contents list. That is, the AVtransmission service unit 180 supports the transmission of a controlsignal for supporting a contents total control service including thecontents list transmission, and the regeneration, the pause, and the“sleep” of the contents. The display unit 150 displays a screenaccording to a various functional support of the portable terminal 10.That is, the display unit 150 supports a stand-by screen, a call screen,a message preparation screen, and a menu screen. Particularly, thedisplay unit 150 can process and output an image included in a file, inthe playback of the file stored in the contents storage unit 130. In themeantime, the display unit 150 may be comprised of, for example, aliquid crystal display (hereinafter, LCD). In case where the LCD is madewith a touch screen type, the display unit 150 can be included in aninput means.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the input unit 190 includes a plurality ofinput keys and function keys for receiving number or characterinformation and setting various functions. Function keys can include,for example, a direction key, a side key and a shortcut key which areset up to perform a specific function. Moreover, the input unit 190generates a key signal relating with a user setting and a functioncontrol of the portable terminal 10, and delivers to the controller 101.Particularly, the input unit 190 of the invention can generate an inputsignal for designating and selecting a specific list of the contentslist outputted to the display unit 150, an input signal for regeneratinga file corresponding to the selected list, and an input signal forcontrolling to transmit a file corresponding to the selected list to theDMR 300, and can deliver to the controller 101.

The controller 101 can control the performance of each configuration andthe transmission of signals which are transceived between theconfigurations in order to control the overall operation of the portableterminal 10. Particularly, the controller 101 of the invention performsthe output of the contents list of the display unit 150, the process ofselecting one of the outputted list and transmitting to the DMR 300, thecontrol of activating the file converter 102, so as to convert a file incase the selected list is a non-support file which the DLNA guide-linedoes not support, the control of transmitting the conversion file to theDMR 300, and the control of transmitting an input signal inputted fromthe input unit 190 or the display unit 150 performing an input functionto the DMR 300.

The file converter 102 converts the selected non-supported file into afile which the DLNA guide-line supports, in case a user selects thenon-supported file which the DLNA guide-line does not support among thefiles included in the contents list by using the input unit 190, afterthe contents management unit 120 outputs the contents list of variousfiles which are stored in the contents storage unit 130 to the displayunit 150 according to an input signal of the input unit 190 and thecontrol of the controller 101.

As shown in FIG. 3, the file converter 102 includes a screen captureunit 11, an encoder 13 and a buffer 15.

The screen capture unit 11 captures the screen outputted to the displayunit 150 and generates a capture image, and delivers the generatedcapture image to the encoder 13. Here, the screen capture unit 11 cancapture, not only the image outputted to the display unit 150 but alsothe other images currently outputted to the display unit 150. In otherwords, additional images corresponding to a signal inputted by the inputunit 190 or the display unit 150 having an input function, into thecontents storage unit 130.

For example, the display unit 150 has a touch screen function,outputting a PDF document. In case the additional image including a lineor a character is entered on the display unit 150 according to the touchscreen function, the screen capture unit 11 can, for example, capturethe state where the line or the character is entered with the image ofthe document outputted to the display unit 150 on a real time basis andgenerate a capture image.

The encoder 13 converts the capture image which the screen capture unit11 delivered into a file which the DLNA guide-line supports, forexample, a MPEG file or a JPEG file. The encoder 13 delivers thetransformed conversion file to the buffer 15. The buffer 15 buffers theconversion file which the encoder 13 encodes. The buffer 15 delivers thebuffered conversion file to the contents transmission unit 140 accordingto the control of the controller 101.

As described above, the exemplary portable terminal 10 of the presentinvention assigns a virtual file name of the non-support files which theDLNA guide-line does not support and prepares a contents list,outputting a selected non-support file to the display unit 150, in casea user selects the virtual file name corresponding to the non-supportfile among the prepared contents list. The portable terminal 10 capturesthe outputted image and converts it into a file which the DLNAguide-line supports, transmitting the conversion file to the DMR 300 bymaking use of the DLNA network.

Here, the portable terminal 10 can generate a conversion file bycapturing not only a simple image outputted to the display unit 150 butan image corresponding to a signal from the input unit on a real timebasis, and can transmit the generated conversion file to the DMR 300with a streaming type. In the above description, the data transmissionsystem of the present invention, the elements comprising the system andthe apparatus corresponding to them were illustrated. Hereinafter, adata communications method based on the data transmission system will beillustrated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operation of a datacommunications method of a portable terminal based on a DLNA networkaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the portable terminal can mean an apparatus which the DMSand the DMC are combined or an apparatus which the DMS and the DMP arecombined among the data transmission system based on the above-describedDLNA network.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in the data communications method of theinvention, firstly, the portable terminal maintains a stand-by screenstate (S101), and checks whether or not the DLNA service is selected(S103). Herein, the portable terminal can provide an option forsupporting a DLNA service as a menu type.

Therefore, in the case where a portable terminal user wants to make useof the DLNA service, the user selects, for example, the DLNA serviceafter activating the menu. In case where the portable terminal user doesnot make use of the DLNA service at step S103, the operation of theportable terminal branches off (S105) and can support performing acorresponding function of the portable terminal, such as, for example,the call function, the file playback function, or the broadcastingreceiving function or the like.

In the meantime, if the DLNA service is activated at step S105, theportable terminal searches the DMR (Digital Media Renderer) that isavailable in its surroundings (S107). It is preferable that the portableterminal supports a user to select an apparatus to use by outputting theDMR supporting the DLNA service after searching the DMR. Then, theportable terminal user checks the list of the DMR apparatuses throughthe display unit, and selects the DMR to use (S109). In case the DMR isselected, the portable terminal can generate the list of the contents(S111) so that the user might select one of various contents which arestored in the contents storage unit, and can output the generatedcontents list to the display unit.

At this point of the operation, the portable terminal generates virtualfiles corresponding to non-support files so that a user can selectcontents which cannot be applied to the DLNA network among variouscontents which are stored in the contents storage unit, that is, canselect non-supported files. Thereafter, the portable terminal generatesthe contents list by integrating the contents applied to the virtualfiles and the DLNA network. Consequently, the contents list includes thelist of various files which are stored in the contents storage unitregardless of the DLNA network, that is, whether the DLNA guide-linesupports or not.

The user selects the contents list for regenerating among the contentslist outputted to the display unit (S113). At this time, the portableterminal checks whether the contents list which the user selected(S115), that is, a selection list, is a non-supported file which theDLNA guide-line does not support or not. In case the selection listwhich the user selected at step S115 is a file which can be applied tothe DLNA network, it branches off (S117), so that the file correspondingto the selection list is searched in the contents storage unit and thesearched corresponding file is transmitted to the DMR. Then, the DMR canoutput the file which the portable terminal transmits. Here, the DMR isan apparatus including an output device which can output a datatransmitted from the portable terminal. It may comprise, for example,devices including but in no way limited to a TV, particularly, a digitalTV, a projector, and a PC monitor or the like.

In the meantime, in case the selection list is a non-supported file atstep S115, the portable terminal outputs a file corresponding to theselection list to the display unit. Here, it is assumed that the filesstored in the portable terminal can be outputted to the display unitwhich is included in the terminal regardless of the support of the DLNAguide-line. In other words, the files stored in the contents storageunit are a type which can be outputted to the display unit of theportable terminal. The portable terminal can capture the image of thestate of outputting to the display unit (S119). That is, the portableterminal captures the image outputted to the display unit and generatesa capture image.

For example, the portable terminal examines a frame buffer allocated tothe display unit, and copies the image stored in the frame buffer suchthat the outputted image can be captured.

After the image is captured, the portable terminal encodes the captureimage into a type which can be applied to the DLNA network (S121) andgenerates a conversion file. For example, the portable terminal canencode the capture image as a MPEG type. The conversion file can betransmitted to the DMR (S125).

In the meantime, at step S119, the portable terminal captures an image,which is outputted to the display unit, which corresponding to an inputsignal from the input unit or the display unit having an input function,while capturing image.

At this time, after capturing the image outputted to the display unit ona real time basis, the portable terminal consecutively generates thecapture image, converting it into a file which the DLNA guide-linesupports. Then, the portable terminal can output the image outputted tothe display unit to the DMR on a real time basis, by transmitting theconversion file to the DMR with a streaming type. For example, when theportable terminal outputs a specific document to the display unit andperforms a task of making a mark or a line on the outputted document,the DMR can output the generating process to the display unit of theabove-described portable terminal on a real time basis.

As described in the above, the method, the apparatus and the system ofthe data communications based on a DLNA network according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention can support the file whichthe DLNA network does not support to be able to output to the DMR basedon a system which can be applied to the DLNA network. Moreover, theinvention transmits a file, which is applicable to the DLNA network tothe DMR, by processing in the DMS on a real time basis under the controlof the DMC, thereby, being able to provide the function that a user canadd an arbitrary transfiguration for a file in the regeneration as wellas the function of the existing simple playback of file.

In the above, a portable terminal having a configuration in which a DMSand a DMC are combined or a configuration in which a DMS and a DMP arecombined was illustrated, however, but the invention is not restrictedto this. That is, the invention is able to convert a contents file whichis not supported in the DLNA network into a file type capable ofsupporting a contents file which can be supported in the DLNA network,while providing a function that a user can arbitrarily convert acontents, when various contents which are stored in the DMS areregenerated.

As described in the above, the method, the apparatus and the system ofthe data communications work according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention can provide a function of processing a file which the DLNAnetwork does not support, that is, a function of providing a contentslist for a non-support file which the DLNA network does not support anda function of changing the attribute of a file in order that thenon-supported file can be outputted in the DMR, while maintaining thefunction of the contents playback sharing between various apparatuseswhich the DLNA network supports. Moreover, the invention can process thetransfiguration of various files by a user on a real time basis andoutput.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood thatmany variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts hereintaught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will stillfall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

1. A method for data communications based on a Digital Living NetworkAlliance (DLNA network), the method comprising: searching storedcontents files by a digital media server (DMS) in response to a request;extracting a non-supported file which the DLNA network does not supportfrom among the contents files; assigning a virtual file name, which theDLNA network supports, to a file not supported by the DLNA network; andgenerating a contents list including the name of the virtual file andproviding the contents list to a DMC (Digital Multimedia Controller). 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the request to search stored contents ismade by of a digital media controller (DMC), and said method furthercomprising: selecting one of the generated contents list, by the DMC;determining whether the selected contents file is a non-support file, bythe DMS; generating a conversion file by converting a file attribute bythe DMS, in case of the non-support file; and transmitting theconversion file to a digital media renderer (DMR) by the DMS.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the step of determining whether the selectedcontents file is a non-supported file comprises: determining whether theselected contents file has a virtual file name.
 4. The method of claim2, wherein generating a conversion file comprises: outputting an imagecomprising the non-supported file; generating a capture image bycapturing the outputted image; and encoding the capture image into afile type which is supported in a DLNA network.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein generating a capture image comprises: outputting anadditional image corresponding to a signal input; and capturing both ofthe additional image and the outputted image.
 6. The method of claim 4,wherein generating a capture image comprises capturing the image on areal time basis.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting theconversion file comprises transmitting the conversion file withstreaming.
 8. An apparatus for data communications based on a DigitalLiving Network Alliance (DLNA) network, the apparatus comprising: acontents storage unit for storing contents files; a contents managementunit for assigning a virtual file name to a file not-supported by theDLNA network among the stored contents files; and a contents directoryservice unit for generating a contents list by making use of the virtualfile name.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contents directoryservice unit generates a contents list including a support file whichthe DLNA network supports and the virtual file name.
 10. The apparatusof claim 8, further comprising a display unit outputting the contentslist; an input unit for generating an input signal for selecting one ofthe contents files from the outputted contents list; a contentstransmission unit for transmitting the selected contents file to adigital media renderer (DMR); and a file converter for converting a fileattribute, in case the selected contents file represents a non-supportedfile.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the file converter outputsthe selected contents file to the display unit, captures the outputtedimage, and converts the file attribute into a file attribute which theDLNA network supports.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fileconverter captures both of an additional image and the outputted image,the additional image corresponding to a signal input from the input unitthat is output to the display unit.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the file converter captures the outputted image which isoutputted to the display unit on a real time basis and generates acapture image.
 14. A system for data communications based on a DigitalLiving Network Alliance (DLNA) network, the system comprising: a digitalmedia server (DMS) which stores a contents file for subsequent selectionin accordance with a request; a digital media controller (DMC) whichrequests the contents file for regeneration among a plurality ofcontents files; and a digital media renderer (DMR) which regeneratesrequests by the DMC, wherein the DMS generates a virtual file namecorresponding to a file not supported by the DLNA network, and generatesa contents list which includes the generated virtual file name.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the DMS further comprises: a file converterfor generating a conversion file by converting a file attribute of aselected contents file, in response to the digital media controllerselecting a non-supported file from the generated contents list; adisplay unit for displaying the selected contents file; and a contentstransmission unit for transmitting the conversion file to the DMR. 16.The system of claim 15, wherein the file converter outputs a contentsfile corresponding to the selected contents list to the display unit,captures the outputted image, and converts the file attribute into afile attribute which a DLNA network supports.
 17. The system of claim16, wherein the file converter captures both of an additional image andthe outputted image, the additional image corresponding to a signalwhich is input from the DMC and output to the display unit.
 18. Thesystem of claim 16, wherein the file converter generates a conversionfile after generating a capture image by capturing an image outputted tothe display unit on a real time basis.
 19. The system of claim 18,wherein the contents transmission unit transmits the conversion file tothe DMR with a streaming type.